BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Including Foundation Year)

If you don’t have the right grades to enrol directly on to the BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree, you could opt to start your studies with a foundation year. The extra year is intended to give you the best possible preparation for success on the degree pathway. It has been designed to develop your skills in mechanics and mathematics – these are important areas of study which will underpin your learning on the degree course.

You’ll study introductory modules relevant to the degree course whilst developing key skills for academic study. Successful completion of the introductory foundation year will allow you to progress onto the Mechanical Engineering degree which is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Engineering Council.

This mechanical engineering degree includes the computing, mathematical and physical sciences required to design, develop and manufacture a range of engineering systems.

You’ll study the core areas that underpin mechanical engineering, which are material science, engineering mechanics, thermofluids, manufacturing systems and engineering design. This includes extensive laboratory experience, so you can gain the skills needed to test systems that you have analysed and constructed.

You’ll also study a management, business and professional practice module. This will develop your initiative, and effective communication and interpersonal skills, to achieve the high level of technical leadership required in a modern engineering environment. Your new skills will be further tested through group and individual research and design projects.

Foundation Year: Mechanical Engineering Degree

Foundations of Mathematics - 20 credits

Further Foundation Maths for Engineers - 20 credits

Collaboration in Engineering - 40 credits

English for Engineering- 20 credits (optional)

Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering- 20 credits (optional)

Foundation Engineering Principles - 20 credits

Year One: Mechanical Engineering Degree

Mathematics for Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineers - 20 credits

Design and Manufacture - 20 credits

Engineering Computing Applications - 20 credits

Engineering Mechanics 1 - 20 credits

Electrical Science - 20 credits

Thermofluids 1 - 20 credits

Year Two: Mechanical Engineering Degree

Further Mathematics for Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineers - 20 credits

Sustainable Engineering Design - 20 credits

Engineering Mechanics 2 - 20 credits

Control and Instrumentation - 20 credits

Thermofluids 2 - 20 credits

Engineering Materials - 20 credits

Optional

Supervised Work Experience (year out in industry) - 120 credits

Year Three: Mechanical Engineering Degree

Individual Project (BEng) - 40 credits

Thermofluids 3 - 20 credits

Design and Analysis - 20 credits

Mechanics and Control - 20 credits

Industrial Management – 20 credits

Teaching

You will learn via lectures, tutorials and seminars. As well as this, you will spend time keeping up-to-date on current issues within the engineering industry. You will also learn through practical work, group projects and a final year project, plus industry visits to companies such as GE Aircraft Engine Services, The Royal Mint and local businesses.

We have excellent links with employers in Wales, the UK and beyond. Through regular consultation with practising professionals, we keep our mechanical engineering courses up-to-date with industry standards. Our strong links also mean you’ll have opportunities for site visits, industrial placements and, for students on sandwich courses, practitioner mentoring.

Our lecturers are experts in their subject areas, having worked in, or with, industry, conducting research, presenting at conferences, publishing their work, and informing your studies with the latest insights. Not only will you be taught by academics who are specialists in their fields, but you will also benefit from guest speakers from the engineering world.

Assessment

The mechanical engineering degree is assessed through assignments, coursework, ongoing class tests and exams. Presentations are included as elements of assessments in some modules, in order that key communication and presentation skills can be developed.

Accreditations

Our BEng Mechanical Engineering degree is fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), to gain Incorporated Engineering status. Students who progress on to the MEng will gain the academic requirements for Chartered Engineering status.

Placements

We encourage all students to complete a placement as part of their mechanical engineering qualification. On a sandwich placement, you can spend up to a year working in the industry to apply your new knowledge and learn new skills – it’s a great boost to your CV and can lead directly to employment when you graduate.

Entry criteria detail typical offers but USW considers all applications on an individual basis which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed may also be acceptable.

Typical A-Level Offer

EE

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

N/A

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass

Typical IB Offer

Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points from Higher Levels

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances

Additional Requirements

Advanced Entry: Internal applicants (USW and Partner Colleges) taking the HND Mechanical Engineering who achieve a distinction profile with above 70% in mechanical science and thermo fluids are considered for 3rd year entry onto the BEng Mechanical Engineering. Applicants obtaining an HND from other universities or colleges with lower grade profiles are able to join the 3rd year of the BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

English Requirements

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

August
2020
- July
2021
Fees

Full-time UK and EU:
£9000

Full-time International:
£13500

August
2021
- July
2022
Fees

Full-time UK and EU: TBC

Full-time International: TBC

Additional Costs

Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.

UK and EU students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK/EU residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

International students

Graduates with a BEng Mechanical Engineering degree could establish an engineering career in areas such as transport, health, defence, manufacturing, entertainment, design or finance. In addition to engineering skills and principles, you will gain extra key skills in management, computers, teamwork, design, project management and communication, which will make you attractive to employers in any sector.

Our Careers and Employability Service

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.

Highlight Stories

Full-time

The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.